Product Description

With aging parents to care for, adult children returning home, and soaring medical expenses, baby boomer's dreams of retirement are quickly fading away. In Boomers on the Edge the author offers practical advice to help you master these challenges and encourages you to let your faith in God see you through your difficult transitions. Paperback.

Publisher's Description

Where can you go when youve been pushed to the edge? The baby boomer generation has found itself in a perfect storm of new and difficult challenges. Aging parents need care. Adult children are moving back home. And just when boomers thought they could retire, economic realities such as meager 401(k) plans and crushing medical expenses are forcing boomers by the thousands back into the workplace. As a boomer, you will have to face at least one of these situations and perhaps even juggle all three. Boomers on the Edge explores the unique challenges that lie ahead and shows how you can survive and even flourish. This book is filled with practical advice, and it is also rich in encouragement. Author Terry Hargrave helps you see the opportunities behind todays changing circumstances. Now is a new chance to build a legacy of wisdom and connection with your parents, learn new responsibility as a parent to older children, and deepen your faith in the face of financial realities. By embracing the emerging landscape of tests and changes, you will discover the rewards of developing a servants heart, and you will come to see Gods faithfulness as never before.

Author Bio

Terry Hargrave, PhD, is nationally recognized for his pioneering work with aging and intergenerational families and the author of Loving Your Parents When They Can No Longer Love You. . Terry has appeared as a consultant on ABC's Good Morning, America, and he and his wife Sharon are therapists in private practice. Terry is professor of marriage and family therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology. He and his wife, Sharon, have two children and were the primary caregivers for Sharon's mother until her passing.

This is a MUCH more worthwhile book than one might think, even though a bit dated, since written before the 2008 crash. Of the 3 realities ... caring for parents, adult children moving back (with kids), and retiring to a fixed income with underfunded social security, medicare, and personal funds ... only the third is especially relevant (or so I believe).

Yet, even though the first two may not bear on my life, the writing is insightful and rewarding.

As to the third, I was born in 1947, so am in the vanguard. Terry argues that I should work as long as possible. Can I shoot the messenger? I guess that does not help with unpleasant truths. He did score points with me for suggesting using a bike as real transportation. I've done this in Anchorage for over 25 years (year round), but now arthritis in hip and knee has brought changes. Now we actually own two cars. As he suggests, we are working on changing our spending habits. I wish me lots of luck.

There are two things not covered. The first is the importance of doing all you can to stay healthy ... well, if mentioned it is not emphasized. The second is making sure your wills are in order; another thing for us to do.

This is fundamentally a Christian-oriented book in that scripture comes up either as support or illustration of his points. For those of you who would be as likely to join the Islamic State as ever to become a Christian, you should still read the book. Terry does not beat the reader up in an evangelistic frenzy. It's just not on his program. That ancient cultures might have worthwhile things to say should not offend you, nor should his own obvious reverence for our Creator. We are all in this together.

Boomers on the Edge by Terry Hargrave is much needed in today's culture for those in midlife. Baby Boomers are now being called "The Sandwich Generation" because we are often sandwiched in between our aging parents and our children, having to care for both. This book gives practical advice for those who are facing this and other similar situations. It also faces financial issues that Boomers will be facing due to our nation's rising cost of living.The book is broken down into three sections:~The Challenge of Caregiving~The Challenge of Adult Children~The Challenge of RetirementThis is a must read for anyone who will be facing caring for elderly parents in their near future. The section on how to parent and grandparent at the same time is also excellent.I highly recommend this. Kudos to Terry Hargrave for writing such a timely book!